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  1. O

    How often do you take a break?

    Breaks have many benefits but the art of taking breaks can become a marital issue when you and your parter (or other companions) don’t pace the same way. My wife, for example, will happily just keep walking forever, without a break or complaint. So we norm that we will take a break for 5...
  2. O

    Long pants and long sleeves in summer? Smart or big mistake?

    Regarding sun protection, I use biking gloves, but don’t see them on other hikers. I first started wearing them to pad a bruise caused by the hiking pole straps and discovered other benefits; sun protection, warmth when it’s cold, and preserved finger dexterity. They have been a regular part of...
  3. O

    Long pants and long sleeves in summer? Smart or big mistake?

    Yes to long sleeves and long pants, for several reasons. Your skin will be protected without the need for sun screen, which has significant downsides, speaking as a physician. You will be more comfortable in a wide range of temperatures, especially high temperatures in the sun. I stick with...
  4. O

    Waterproof Jacket

    Among the variables to consider for rain gear is how they are worn. Generously sized jackets can be worn over the pack in quiet rain with maximum ventilation. In driving rain and cold temperatures, or even high winds and cold, a zipped up jacket is likely to keep you more comfortable than a...
  5. O

    Clothing

    My wife and I carry one extra long sleeved nylon, buttoned shirt with a collar and extra light weight nylon pants. Our main objective is to have dry clean clothes available at the end of the day when the day clothes are drying after washing. On those infrequent mornings when they are not...
  6. O

    1st Time over Xmas week +2 Irish teen boys

    I agree with all the advice to encourage your sons to do as much of the the trip preparation as possible. Now you have time. Raise questions about the itinerary, what to bring, conditioning, route finding, etc. . Acqaint them with the amazingly rich resources on this website, and suggest that...
  7. O

    Alternatives for evening footwear, including autumn/winter

    Basic Crocs, always. On a couple of occasions I had to use them for hiking as a backup to my trail running shoes. They worked fine, even going over the Pyrenees. I put electricians tape over the front holes to keep mud out and water out, which worked ok until it didn't stick. Be mindful that...
  8. O

    Headlamp question

    It is called X-Light Micro. LRI. (Blachly, Oregon, significant for Oregonians) Black fishing line is stylish. It's one of my favorite gifts to brand new pilgrims.
  9. O

    Waterproof shoes

    I was curious about how long gortex lasts, especially in shoes where it is subjected to dirt and foot oils. It would be grand if someone did electron microscopy to inspect the membrane after use, with all those pores that only allow vapor to pass thorugh and not water molecules. Anyone know of...
  10. O

    Headlamp question

    Head lamp? So far, never during shoulder seasons. X-Light micro, always; worn on string like a pendant, always available during evenings., Good for hands free searching in pack, dimmible, it has singnal modes like strobe for safety if needed around cars, weighs 7.8 g, and easily replaceable Li...
  11. O

    Umbrella for sun and rain - buy good quality (expensive) or just use a cheap one?

    I like using umbrellas. A relatively light weight, inexpensive, compact, off the shelf aluminum Shedrain umbrella still works fine and survived high winds and multiple hikes. I switched to an orange Euroshirm light trek compact umbrella. It is very well made, durable, more expensive, and the...
  12. O

    Packing List : T shirts : Merino wool or synthetic quick dry ?

    All synthetics are not the same. Check the lables. Polyester and polypropylene breed happy smell producing organisms; Nylon doesn't. Nylon is not hospitable for smells, is extremely durable and dries quickly, and is not expensive. I take a thin merino sweater for warmth, layered over a shirt...
  13. O

    Shoes vs boots (again)

    I recently wore Lone Peaks on a backpacking trip; 2400 ft of elevation gain up an overgrown very narrow trail with rocks and long stretches on scree. The shoes worked fine, in conditions that far exceeded anything encountered on various long hikes and Caminos. My personal conditioning, wasn’t...
  14. O

    Suddenly feeling terrified

    With this outpouring of support and sage advice you know that you are not alone. And if some doubts and fears hitch a ride, as they often do, look forward to your stride settling into the rhythm of the day, and during those lovely meditative stretches, what a pilgrim might call an inner...
  15. O

    Waterproof shoes

    Lots of good advice here, some based on human physiology (feet sweat ounces of water/day), or physics (water vapor will move out of your shoes when the vapor pressure inside is greater than outside the shoe. Shoes soaked with rain don't eagerly allow water vapor to escape, and ventilation...
  16. O

    Fleece or Micro-fleece or?

    Standard kit for shoulder seasons: 100 wt. Polarplus zipneck pullover, Costco v neck merino wool sweater, FroggTogg rain jacket, Columbia Sportswear LS shirt. Except for freezing temps and snow, rarely needed all of them at once while walking. The sneaky warmth of a down vest would be a...
  17. O

    Where do you carry your valuables?

    I had read about pack snatching before our first Camino. I made a 12 gauge loop of piano wire with a very small tricky latch from fishing equipment. It weighed nothing and seemed like it was a perfect solution to a problem that I later decided wasn't. However, when our daughter-in-law's father...
  18. O

    Lightweight rain jacket

    I second Trecile’s recommendation of trying Frogg Toggs. We’ve been using versions of them for over 15 years on our long hikes. They are more comfortable regarding condensation than Gortex types rain gear. Frogg Toggs‘s water protection doesn’t seem to degrade over time, but I can’t offer any...
  19. O

    Route suggestions once you've done all the obvious caminos?

    We can recommend the Via Regia, from Gorlitz to Vacha. As another ancient route (more than 2000 years old) , it has a rich cultural history, notable towns and cities, and relatively recent development of simple pilgrim's resources for lodging, mostly in rectory buildings associated with...
  20. O

    Route suggestions once you've done all the obvious caminos?

    Have you considered the Arles route? It's a beautiful hike. No worry about crowds. - More arduous than the Via Regia, and less elevation gain than the Southwest Coast Path in England, which excels in scenic beauty, but lacks Camino pilgrims experience. The via Francigena was next on our list but...

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